A familiar face
The moderator of the party leaders’ English-language debate Sept. 9 will be Angus Reid Institute president Shachi Kurl.
Kurl, who won praise after performing the same task during last year’s B.C. provincial election, is an occasional contributor to the Times Colonist opinion pages.
Local viewers might remember her as a reporter with CTV News Vancouver Island — then known as A Channel — from 2005 to 2011.
Journalists Rosemary Barton of the CBC, Evan Solomon of CTV, Melissa Ridge on APTN and Mercedes Stephenson of Global will also play a role in the leaders’ debate.
Who’s running (so far)
Here’s who the main parties are running on the Island. The nomination deadline is Aug. 30:
Victoria
NDP — First-term MP Laurel Collins, a former Victoria city councillor, is the incumbent
Liberals — Oceans and climate researcher Nikki Macdonald, a former Jean Chrétien adviser who also ran in 2019
Greens — UVic law student Nick Loughton
Conservatives — No one yet
People’s Party of Canada — John Randal Phipps.
Saanich-Gulf Islands
Greens — Elizabeth May has held the seat since 2011
NDP — Sabina Singh, an academic and activist, ran in 2019
Conservative — David Busch, a Saanich lawyer, also ran in 2019
Liberals — Sherri Moore-Arbour, a Metis communications professional from Galiano Island
PPC — David Hilderman.
Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke
NDP — Randall Garrison has been the MP since 2011
Liberals — Doug Kobayashi, a Colwood councillor and business consultant
Greens — Forest researcher Harley Gordon
PPC — Rob Anderson
Conservatives — No one yet.
Cowichan-Malahat-Langford
NDP — Incumbent Alistair MacGregor was first elected in 2015
Liberals — Blair Herbert, a realtor, also ran in 2019
Conservatives — Alana DeLong, a Thetis Island resident who served for 14 years as an MLA in Alberta and ran for the B.C. Liberals in 2017
PPC — Mark Hecht
Greens — The party is to choose between Nick Dickinson-Wilde, Lia Versaevel and Shirley Lambrecht today.
Nanaimo-Ladysmith
Greens — Paul Manly, the incumbent since 2019
NDP — School trustee Lisa Marie Barron
Liberals — Michelle Corfield is back for her third straight attempt
Conservatives — Tamara Kronis, a former Toronto lawyer who turned to the jewelry trade.
Courtenay-Alberni
NDP — Gord Johns has been MP since 2015
Liberals — Susan Farlinger, formerly a DFO biologist and manager and Canada’s lead negotiator at the Pacific Salmon Commission
Conservatives — Mary Lee, a communications professional and former major in the Canadian Armed Forces
PPC — Robert Eppich
Greens — No one yet.
North Island-Powell River
NDP — Incumbent Rachel Blaney has been the MP since 2015
Conservatives — Port McNeill municipal councillor Shelley Downey, who also ran in 2019
Greens — Comox human rights lawyer Jessica Wegg
PPC — Jacob Adams
Liberals — No one yet.
> For more election coverage, go to timescolonist.com/election
